The Deadly Impact of Airborne Particles

You probably know that air pollution is bad for your lungs, but did you know that it is a major risk factor for heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide? We usually focus on diet or exercise to prevent heart disease, but we can’t escape air pollution; it’s all around us. Air pollution isn’t made up of one thing – it’s a cocktail of toxic gases and particles. These miniscule particles are comprised of a complex mixture of carcinogens, sulfates, nitrates, elemental carbon and toxic metals, like lead and arsenic. Its hard to imagine the size of these particles; it helps if we compare it with the width of a human hair or a grain of sand. Each of these particles is invisible, but collectively they create a dense, visible smog that is deadly.